Durga, also identified as
Adi Parashakti,
Devī,
Shakti,
Parvati (primary form/name), Amba,
Kali and by numerous other names, is a principal and popular form of
Hindu Goddess.[3][4][5] She is the warrior goddess, whose mythology centres around combating evils and demonic forces that threaten peace, prosperity and
dharma of the good.[4][6] She is the fierce form of the protective mother goddess, willing to unleash her anger against wrong, violence for liberation and destruction to empower creation.[7]

Durga is also worshiped in the form of her nine epithets called
Navadurga.

Durga is depicted in the Hindu pantheon as a Goddess riding a lion or tiger, with many arms each carrying a weapon,[2] often defeating
Mahishasura (lit. buffalo demon).[8][9][8][10]

She is a central deity in
Shaktism tradition of Hinduism, where she is equated with the concept of ultimate reality called
Brahman.[11][6] One of the most important texts of Shaktism is
Devi Mahatmya, also known as Durgā Saptashatī, which celebrates Durga as the Goddess, declaring her as the Supreme Being and the creator of the universe.[12][13][14] Estimated to have been composed between 400 and 600 CE,[15][16][17] this text is considered by Shakta Hindus to be as important scripture as the
Bhagavad Gita.[18][19] She has a significant following all over
India,
Bangladesh and
Nepal, particularly in its eastern states such as
West Bengal,
Odisha,
Jharkhand,
Assam and
Bihar. Durga is revered after spring and autumn harvests, specially during the festival of
Navratri.[20][21]

The word Durga (दुर्गा)(দুর্গা) literally means "impassable",[20][3] "invincible, unassailable".[22] It is related to the word Durg (दुर्ग)(দুর্গ) which means "fortress, something difficult to defeat or pass". According to
Monier Monier-Williams, Durga is derived from the roots dur (difficult) and gam (pass, go through).[23] According to Alain Daniélou, Durga means "beyond defeat".[24]

The word Durga, and related terms appear in the Vedic literature, such as in the Rigveda hymns 4.28, 5.34, 8.27, 8.47, 8.93 and 10.127, and in sections 10.1 and 12.4 of the Atharvaveda.[23][25][note 1] A deity named Durgi appears in section 10.1.7 of the Taittiriya
Aranyaka.[23] While the Vedic literature uses the word Durga, the description therein lacks the legendary details about her that is found in later Hindu literature.[27]

The word is also found in ancient post-Vedic Sanskrit texts such as in section 2.451 of the Mahabharata and section 4.27.16 of the Ramayana.[23] These usages are in different contexts. For example, Durg is the name of an
Asura who had become invincible to gods, and Durga is the goddess who intervenes and slays him. Durga and its derivatives are found in sections 4.1.99 and 6.3.63 of the Ashtadhyayi by
Pāṇini, the ancient Sanskrit grammarian, and in the commentary of
Nirukta by
Yaska.[23]Durga as a demon-slaying goddess was likely well established by the time the classic Hindu text called Devi Mahatmya was composed, which scholars variously estimate to between 400 and 600 CE.[15][16][28] The Devi Mahatmya and other mythologies describe the nature of demonic forces symbolised by Mahishasura as shape-shifting and adapting in nature, form and strategy to create difficulties and achieve their evil ends, while Durga calmly understands and counters the evil in order to achieve her solemn goals.[29][30][note 2]

There are many epithets for Durga in
Shaktism and her nine appellations are (
Navadurga): Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayini, Kaalratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri. A list of 108 names of the goddess are recited in order to worship her and is popularly known as the "Ashtottarshat Namavali of Goddess Durga".

History and texts

One of the earliest evidence of reverence for
Devi – the feminine nature of God, appears in chapter 10.125 of the Rig Veda, one of the scriptures of Hinduism. This hymn is also called the Devi Suktam hymn (abridged):[32][33]

I am the Queen, the gatherer-up of treasures, most thoughtful, first of those who merit worship.
Thus gods have established me in many places with many homes to enter and abide in.
Through me alone all eat the food that feeds them, – each man who sees, breathes, hears the word outspoken.
They know it not, yet I reside in the essence of the Universe. Hear, one and all, the truth as I declare it.
I, verily, myself announce and utter the word that gods and men alike shall welcome.
I make the man I love exceedingly mighty, make him nourished, a sage, and one who knows Brahman.
I bend the bow for Rudra [Shiva], that his arrow may strike, and slay the hater of devotion.
I rouse and order battle for the people, I created Earth and Heaven and reside as their Inner Controller.
On the world's summit I bring forth sky the Father: my home is in the waters, in the ocean as Mother.
Thence I pervade all existing creatures, as their Inner Supreme Self, and manifest them with my body.
I created all worlds at my will, without any higher being, and permeate and dwell within them.
The eternal and infinite consciousness is I, it is my greatness dwelling in everything.

Devi's epithets synonymous with Durga appear in
Upanishadic literature, such as Kali in verse 1.2.4 of the Mundaka Upanishad dated to about the 5th century BCE.[35] This single mention describes Kali as "terrible yet swift as thought", very red and smoky colored manifestation of the divine with a fire-like flickering tongue, before the text begins presenting its thesis that one must seek self-knowledge and the knowledge of the eternal
Brahman.[36]

Durga, in her various forms, appears as an independent deity in the Epics period of ancient India, that is the centuries around the start of the common era.[37] Both
Yudhisthira and
Arjuna characters of the Mahabharata invoke hymns to Durga.[35] She appears in Harivamsa in the form of Vishnu's eulogy, and in Pradyumna prayer.[37] Various
Puranas from the early to late 1st millennium CE dedicate chapters of inconsistent mythologies associated with Durga.[35] Of these, the Markandeya Purana and the Devi-Bhagavata Purana are the most significant texts on Durga.[38][39] The
Devi Upanishad and other
Shakta Upanishads, mostly dated to have been composed in or after the 9th century, present the philosophical and mystical speculations related to Durga as Devi and other epithets, identifying her to be the same as the
Brahman and
Atman (self, soul).[40][41]

Origins

The historian Ramaprasad Chanda stated in 1916 that Durga evolved over time in the Indian subcontinent. A primitive form of Durga, according to Chanda, was the result of "
syncretism of a mountain-goddess worshiped by the dwellers of the
Himalaya and the
Vindhyas", a deity of the
Abhiras conceptualized as a war-goddess. Durga then transformed into Kali as the personification of the all-destroying time, while aspects of her emerged as the primordial energy (
Adya Sakti) integrated into the
samsara (cycle of rebirths) concept and this idea was built on the foundation of the Vedic religion, mythology and philosophy.[42]

Epigraphical evidence indicates that regardless of her origins, Durga is an ancient goddess. The 6th-century CE inscriptions in early Siddhamatrika script, such as at the Nagarjuni hill cave during the
Maukhari era, already mention the legend of her victory over Mahishasura (buffalo-hybrid demon).[43]

Birth

Originally she is
Adi Parashakti, present before creation and after destruction of the entire universe. She is the ultimate energy but to defeat the
AsuraMahishasura all the gods invoked her and as she was present in the form of
shakti in all the gods, so she manifested herself from the three gods
Brahma,
Vishnu and
Shiva and the other gods. Thus her manifested form was born/emerged from the gods to end the torture of
AsuraMahishasura. She was gifted with different weapons, ornaments, valuable clothes and gold jewelleries with precious stones and a lion as her mount before going for the war.

European traders and colonial era references

Some early European accounts refer to a deity known as Deumus, Demus or Deumo. Western (Portuguese) sailors first came face to face with the
murti of Deumus at
Calicut on the
Malabar Coast and they concluded it to be the deity of Calicut. Deumus is sometimes interpreted as an aspect of Durga in Hindu mythology and sometimes as
deva. It is described that the ruler of Calicut (
Zamorin) had a
murti of Deumus in his temple inside his royal palace.[44]

Attributes and iconography

Left: A sketch of Durga as buffalo-demon slayer from a 6th century Aihole Hindu temple; Right: in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu.

Durga has been a warrior goddess, and she is depicted to express her martial skills. Her iconography typically resonates with these attributes, where she rides a lion or a tiger,[1] has between eight and eighteen hands, each holding a weapon to destroy and create.[45][46] She is often shown in the midst of her war with Mahishasura, the buffalo demon at the time she victoriously kills the demonic force. Her icon shows her in action, yet her face is calm and serene.[47][48] In Hindu arts, this tranquil attribute of Durga's face is traditionally derived from the belief that she is protective and violent not because of her hatred, egotism or getting pleasure in violence, but because she acts out of necessity, for the love of the good, for liberation of those who depend on her, and a mark of the beginning of soul's journey to creative freedom.[48][49][50]

Durga traditionally holds the weapons of various male gods of Hindu mythology, which they give her to fight the evil forces because they feel that she is the shakti (energy, power).[51] These include chakra, conch, bow, arrow, sword, javelin, shield, and a noose.[52] These weapons are considered symbolic by Shakta Hindus, representing self-discipline, selfless service to others, self-examination, prayer, devotion, remembering her mantras, cheerfulness and meditation. Durga herself is viewed as the "Self" within and the divine mother of all creation.[53] She has been revered by warriors, blessing their new weapons.[54] Durga iconography has been flexible in the Hindu traditions, where for example some intellectuals place a pen or other writing implements in her hand since they consider their stylus as their weapon.[54]

Archeological discoveries suggest that these iconographic features of Durga became common throughout India by about the 4th century CE, states David Kinsley – a professor of religious studies specializing on Hindu goddesses.[55] Durga iconography in some temples appears as part of Mahavidyas or Saptamatrkas (seven mothers considered forms o Durga). Her icons in major Hindu temples such as in
Varanasi include relief artworks that show scenes from the Devi Mahatmya.[56]

Durga appears in Hindu mythology in numerous forms and names, but ultimately all these are different aspects and manifestations of one goddess. She is imagined to be terrifying and destructive when she has to be, but benevolent and nurturing when she needs to be.[57] While anthropomorphic icons of her, such as those showing her riding a lion and holding weapons are common, the Hindu traditions use aniconic forms and geometric designs (
yantra) to remember and revere what she symbolizes.[58]

Worship and festivals

Durga is worshipped in
Hindu temples across India and Nepal by Shakta Hindus. Her temples, worship and festivals are particularly popular in eastern and northeastern parts of
Indian subcontinent during Durga puja, Dashain and Navaratri.[2][20][59]

Durga puja

Durga festival images (clockwise from top): Durga puja pandal in
Kolkata, dancing on Vijayadashami, women smearing each other with color, and family get together for Dasain in Nepal.

As per Markandya Puran, Durga puja can be performed either for 9 days or 4 days (last four in sequence). The four-day-long
Durga Puja is a major annual festival in
Bengal,
Odisha,
Assam,
Jharkhand and
Bihar.[2][20] It is scheduled per the Hindu luni-solar calendar in the month of Ashvin,[60] and typically falls in September or October. Since it is celebrated during Sharad (literally,season of weeds), it is called as Sharadiya Durga Puja or Akal-Bodhan to differentiate it from the one celebrated originally in spring. The festival is celebrated by communities by making special colorful images of Durga out of clay,[61] recitations of Devi Mahatmya text,[60] prayers and revelry for nine days, after which it is taken out in procession with singing and dancing, then immersed in water. The Durga puja is an occasion of major private and public festivities in the eastern and northeastern states of India.[2][62][63]

The day of Durga's victory is celebrated as
Vijayadashami (Bijoya in Bengali), Dashain (Nepali) or
Dussehra (in Hindi) – these words literally mean "the victory on the Tenth (day)".[64]

This festival is an old tradition of Hinduism, though it is unclear how and in which century the festival began. Surviving manuscripts from the 14th century provide guidelines for Durga puja, while historical records suggest royalty and wealthy families were sponsoring major Durga puja public festivities since at least the 16th century.[62] The 11th or 12th century Jainism text Yasatilaka by Somadeva mentions a festival and annual dates dedicated to a warrior goddess, celebrated by the king and his armed forces, and the description mirrors attributes of a Durga puja.[60]

Dashain

In
Nepal, the festival dedicated to Durga is called
Dashain (sometimes spelled as Dasain), which literally means "the ten".[59] Dashain is the longest national holiday of Nepal, and is a public holiday in
Sikkim and
Bhutan. During Dashain, Durga is worshipped in ten forms (
Shailaputri,
Brahmacharini,
Chandraghanta,
Kushmanda,
Skandamata,
Katyayani,
Kalaratri,
Mahagauri,
Mahakali and Durga) with one form for each day in Nepal. The festival includes animal sacrifice in some communities, as well as the purchase of new clothes and gift giving. Traditionally, the festival is celebrated over 15 days, the first nine-day are spent by the faithful by remembering Durga and her ideas, the tenth day marks Durga's victory over Mahisura, and the last five days celebrate the victory of good over evil.[59]

During the first nine days, nine aspects of Durga known as
Navadurga are meditated upon, one by one during the nine-day festival by devout
Shakti worshippers. Durga Puja also includes the worship of
Shiva, who is Durga's consort, in addition to
Lakshmi,
Saraswati,
Ganesha and
Kartikeya, who are considered to be Durga's children.[66] Some Shaktas worship Durga's symbolism and presence as
Mother Nature. In South India, especially Andhra Pradesh, Dussera Navaratri is also celebrated and the goddess is dressed each day as a different Devi, all considered equivalent but another aspect of Durga.

Other countries

In
Bangladesh, the four-day-long
Sharadiya Durga Puja is the most important religious festival for the Hindus and celebrated across the country with Vijayadashami being a national holiday. In Sri Lanka, Durga in the form of Vaishnavi, bearing Vishnu's iconographic symbolism is celebrated. This tradition has been continued by Sri Lankan diaspora.[67]

In Buddhism

According to Hajime Nakamura, over its history, some Buddhist traditions adopted Vedic and Hindu ideas and symbols. For example, the fierce Vajrayana Buddhist meditational deity
Yamantaka, also known as Vajrabhairava, developed from the pre-Buddhist god of death,
Yama.[69] The Tantric traditions of Buddhism included Durga and developed the idea further.[70] In Japanese Buddhism, she appears as Butsu-mo (sometimes called Koti-sri).[71] In Tibet, the goddess
Palden Lhamo is similar to the protective and fierce Durga.[72][68]

In Jainism

The Sacciya mata found in major medieval era Jain temples mirrors Durga, and she has been identified by Jainism scholars to be the same or sharing a more ancient common lineage.[73] In the
Ellora Caves, the Jain temples feature Durga with her lion mount. However, she is not shown as killing the buffalo demon in the Jain cave, but she is presented as a peaceful deity.[74]

In Sikhism

Durga is exalted as the divine in Dasam Granth, a sacred text of Sikhism that is traditionally attributed to
Guru Gobind Singh.[75] According to Eleanor Nesbitt, this view has been challenged by Sikhs who consider Sikhism to be monotheistic, who hold that a feminine form of Supreme and a reverence for Goddess is "unmistakably of Hindu character".[75]

Outside Indian subcontinent

Goddess Durga in Southeast Asia, from left: 7th/8th century
Cambodia, 10/11th century
Vietnam, 8th/9th century
Indonesia.

Archeological site excavations in
Indonesia, particularly on the island of Java, have yielded numerous statues of Durga. These have been dated to be from 6th century onwards.[76] Of the numerous early to mid medieval era Hindu deity stone statues uncovered on Indonesian islands, at least 135 statues are of Durga.[77] In parts of Java, she is known as Loro Jonggrang (literally, "slender maiden").[78]

In
Cambodia, during its era of Hindu kings, Durga was popular and numerous sculptures of her have been found. However, most differ from the Indian representation in one detail. The Cambodian Durga iconography shows her standing on top of the cut buffalo demon head.[79]

Durga statues have been discovered at stone temples and archeological sites in
Vietnam, likely related to Champa or Cham dynasty era.[80][81]

Influence

Durga is a major goddess in Hinduism, and the inspiration of
Durga Puja – a large annual festival particularly in the eastern and northeastern states of India. Every village, town and city Goddess is her form (if not a form of
Laxmi). Durga is celebrated across North India commonly with the phrase 'Jay Mata Di'. She is worshiped as
Kamakshi in
Tamil Nadu. Major cities like
Mumbai (named after
Mumba Devi-a name for Durga) and
Kolkata (from
Kalika, a major form of Durga) are named after her.[82]

Durga as the mother goddess is the inspiration behind the song
Vande Mataram, written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, during
Indian independence movement, later the official national song of India.
Durga is present in
Indian Nationalism where
Bharat Mata i.e. Mother India is viewed as a form of Durga. This is completely secular and keeping in line with the ancient ideology of Durga as Mother and protector to Indians. She is present in pop culture and blockbuster Bollywood movies like Jai Santoshi Maa.
The Indian Army uses phrases like "Durga Mata ki Jai!" and "
Kaali Mata ki Jai!".
Any woman who takes up a cause to fight for goodness and justice is said to have the spirit of Durga in her.[83][84]

Notes

^In the Shakta tradition of Hinduism, many of the stories about obstacles and battles have been considered as metaphors for the divine and demonic within each human being, with liberation being the state of self-understanding whereby a virtuous nature and society emerging victorious over the vicious.[31]